With Russia's invasion of Ukraine faltering, could the Kremlin consider escalating the conflict using chemical weapons? What would biological warfare look like? 

Dr Alastair Hay, a Professor of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Leeds, joins Arthur Snell to discuss the history of chemical weapons, and if we'll see them used in the Ukraine conflict.

We're putting out irregular war bulletins covering different aspects of the Ukraine crisis. Help our work, and shape the next full series of Doomsday Watch, by supporting us on Patreon.

Resources to help the Ukrainian people can be found here: https://ukrainewar.carrd.co/

• “Officially Russia should have no chemical weapons. But all the evidence points to them being responsible for the Salisbury poisonings.” 
• “The novichok nerve agent used against the Skripals and Navalny is exceeding lethal in small quantities.” 
• “Russia has stood back and supported Syria’s use of chemical weapons.” 
• “The U.K. had stocks of chemical weapons, but these were destroyed in the 1950s and 60s.” 
• “Chemical weapons cause nowhere near as many casualties as nuclear weapons, but they are indiscriminate.” 
• “Troops have protective clothing, but civilians don’t, so the use of these weapons would be to terrorise the population.”

DOOMSDAY WATCH was written and presented by Arthur Snell, and produced by Robin Leeburn with Jacob Archbold. Theme tune and original music by Paul Hartnoll. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. DOOMSDAY WATCH is a Podmasters production.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices